BOSS Member Spotlight: Tammecia Smith

Tammecia Smith has dedicated 17 years to the death care industry and owns Melanated Memorials, a diverse line of headstones and monuments featuring African American angels. She’s dedicated to transforming the memorial industry by offering high-quality and affordable memorials that honor memories while celebrating diversity. What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career? Trying to find vendors willing to design and create these custom memorials. The method of conveying to vendors what dictates “African American” features is more complicated than you’d think, especially for those who haven’t been around us. What inspired you to break into your industry? While assisting families with their cemetery selections and memorial design, it was common for families to skip over the section in the design book with religious figures. They all looked Caucasian. I realized there was a need for inclusion within the monument industry. H...